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December 11, 2008
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Honest Politician (when bought, stays bought)

In politics, an "honest man" is often described as someone (a politician or a voter) who, when bought, stays bought. A "dishonest man" is someone who sides with the person who…

June 26, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Hope Bubble

A "hope bubble" is a a philosophy of hope that someone has. "Hope bubble" has been cited in print since at least 2002, but the term became popular since 2008. Barack Obama…

February 11, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Hopium (hope + opium)

"Hopium" (hope + opium) has been cited in print since at least 2003 to describe a drug of addicting "hope." Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign used "hope and…

August 5, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Hot Tub (Washington, D.C. nickname)

M. Stanton Evans wrote in the late 1980s about the Reagan Republicans who came to Washington: "Most conservatives know when they come to Washington that it is a sewer; the trouble is, too many…

October 29, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Hot-Button Issue

A "hot button issue" (also "hot-button issue") is an emotional, explosive, highly divisive political issue (such as abortion). The issue touches a "hot button" (like a…

December 3, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

House of Corruption (UK House of Commons nickname)

The House of Commons (HOC) is the lower house and de facto primary chamber of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Some critics of the House of Commons have called it the "House of…

June 12, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

House of Reprehensibles (House of Representatives nickname)

The United States House of Representatives is one of two houses (along with the Senate) of the United States Congress; there are also state houses of representatives. The derogatory nickname of…

July 15, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Human Chop Shop (Planned Parenthood nickname)

A "chop shop" is an auto body "shop" where vehicles are "chopped" up for their parts. Abortion clinics have also been called "chop shops." "I agree with…

April 26, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

I-95 Primary (Northeast presidential primaries)

The U.S. presidential primaries on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, held in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, were dubbed the “I-95 Primary." Interstate…

October 11, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

I.O.U.S.A. (IOU + USA)

"I.O.U.S.A." (IOU + USA) was printed in an income tax poem by an anonymous author that appeared in several newspapers since 1952: "Income tax is almost due,And this makes me,…

February 5, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Iatrogenic Government

Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927-2003) was the United States Senator from New York when he wrote the essay "Iatrogenic Government: Social Policy and Drug Research" for The American Scholar…

May 29, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Idiocracy (idiot + bureaucracy)

"Idiocracy" is a "bureaucracy" run by "idiots" (or "idiot" ideas). "Idiocracy" gained popularity when it was used as the title of a 2006 movie…

October 4, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Idiot Board (a teleprompter)

An "idiot board" is a board (such as a chalk board or a piece of cardboard) with a performer's lines written on it. The "idiot board" is kept out of view of the live…

March 11, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

IINO (Independent In Name Only)

IINO (Independent In Name Only) is a spinoff term from the earlier RINO (Republican In Name Only). “RINO” is cited in print from 1992; "IINO" has been cited in print since September…

November 27, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Illuminutty (Illuminati + nutty)

The Illuminati is a secret society that was founded in 1976. The "Illuminati" is used in the 21st century as a code term for the world's elite, who manipulate the masses to bring…

March 13, 2018
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Immoral Robbery Service (Internal Revenue Service or IRS nickname)

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) collects revenue for the United States federal government. The IRS was nicknamed "Immoral Robbery Swindlers" on Twitter on January 12, 2017. A similar…

July 7, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Impeach-mint (political flavor)

"Impeachmint" (also "impeach-mint" or "impeach mint") is a political flavor pun on the word "impeachment." The term was popularized by at least 1973, with…

November 8, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Imperial Congress

"The Imperial Presidency" was dubbed on the U.S. presidency of Richard Nixon by 1972, when some believed that the president was acting like an emperor. "The Imperial Congress"…

June 24, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

IMPOTUS (Impeached President Of The United States)

POTUS stands for President Of The United States. IMPOTUS stands for Impeached President Of The United States. "IMPOTUS" is similar to the word "impotent" and can also mean…

June 24, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

IMPOTUS (impotent + POTUS)

POTUS stands for President Of The United States. IMPOTUS stands for Impeached President Of The United States. "IMPOTUS" is similar to the word "impotent" and can also mean…

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BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

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